American Express Travel Shares Top 2013 Consumer Travel Trends

American Express Travel Shares Top 2013 Consumer Travel Trends
Travel Insiders Forecast the Hottest Destinations and Activities for 2013
Business Wire
NEW YORK -- February 13, 2013
Fifty percent of Americans already have booked or plan to book travel in 2013,
according to a recent American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, a monthly
survey to determine consumer spending and saving plans or intentions.
Eighty-seven percent of those with plans to travel intend to spend the same or
more than last year on their vacations. American Express Travel Insiders,
specially-trained travel agents with in-depth destination knowledge, shared
the most popular destinations for where consumers are headed this year.
International: Domestic:
*Brazil *Seattle, Washington
*New Zealand *Santa Fe, New Mexico
*Morocco *Nashville, Tennessee
*Scotland *Denver, Colorado
*Banff National Park, Canada *Palm Springs, California
Top Activities on 2013 Itineraries:
American Express Travel Insiders also noted the hottest past times for the new
year:
*Romancing the Rails – The old-school romantic feel of traveling somewhere
on a luxurious locomotive has once again become intriguing to travelers.
The Royal Scotsman, Orient Express, Eurostar and new Italian NTV Italo are
just a sampling of some of the incredible train experiences people are
booking.
*On the Wild Side – Nature lovers often associate Safaris with Africa but
that perception is changing. Travelers are going to more diverse locations
to observe wildlife, like Borneo, Indonesia to see the orangutans and the
National Parks of Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench in India to get up close
and personal with tigers.
*Time Travel – Travelers don’t want to just read about history, they are
requesting itineraries that allow them to relive it. While some, inspired
by the pomp and circumstance of Downton Abbey, seek to discover the
British countryside; others are sticking closer to home to take in the
historical sites of Colonial Williamsburg and Boston.
*Cycling Escapes – These increasingly popular, athletic getaways combine
the benefits of a workout with the scenic vineyards of France, the
pristine mountains of Colorado or other natural wonders. While you may
provide the muscle, these trips add a luxurious introduction to these
destinations, featuring stays in historical castles and palaces, Champagne
luncheons, and private tours.
*Sails Up – While cruising has always been a popular winter getaway option,
travelers are heading beyond the Caribbean to explore the high seas in new
territories. With an 80% increase in year-over-year cruise booking to the
Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Vietnam,
and Thailand have proved to be among the most popular with travelers.
To learn more about American Express Travel Insiders and their destination
expertise, please visit travelinsiders.americanexpress.com.
About the Spending & Saving Tracker
The American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed online
among a random sample of 1508 adults, including the general U.S. population,
an affluent demographic, defined by a minimum annual household income of
$100,000. Interviewing was conducted by Echo Research between December 18 and
December 20, 2012. These findings have a margin of error of ± 2.5 percentage
points at the 95% level of confidence.
About American Express Travel
American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915 and today operates
one of the world's largest travel agency networks in more than 140 countries
worldwide.www.AmexTravel.com
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access
to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business
success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on
facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress,
linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and
youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products and services: charge and credit cards, business credit
cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, business
travel, and corporate card.
Contact:
American Express
Marisa S. Schneer, 212-640-2228
Marisa.s.schneer@aexp.com